Semi-automatic crimping tool



Nov. 1, 1955 G. H. BYREM SEMI-AUTOMATIC CRIMPING Toor.

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SEMI-AUTOMATIC CRIMPING TOOL Filed Aug. 25, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2,wwe/Mfrs.-

Nov. l, 1955 G. H. BYREM SEMI-AUTOMATIC CRIMPING Toor.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 25, 1952 INVENTOR.' se/1z0 A. yzEM M 15J/W,

A Tron/viri- Nov. 1, 1955 G. H. BYREM 2,722,146

SEMI-AUTOMATIC CRvIMPING TOOL Filed Aug. 25, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4'Tlc'.. 0 2 94 5 65 92: 20

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United States Patent O SEMI-AUTOMATIC CRIMPIN G TOOL Gerald H. Byrem,Harrisburg, Pa., assignor to Aircraft- Marine Products Inc., Harrisburg,Pa.

This invention relates to hand tools for crimping electrical connectorsof the type used for joining the ends of'electrical conductors toprovide an electrically conductive 'joint therebetween. Hand toolsembodying the present invention can be used in a variety of differentways to crimp many different types of connectors. However, the utilityof the present hand tool can be most conveniently pointed out byselecting a specific illustrative application for which it is especiallyuseful. Accordingly the tool will be initially described in relation toits use with respect to a sleeve type connector such as that describedin the copending application of George T. Ritter, Serial No. 242,850,led August 21, 1951. A connector of this type is illustrated in Figure14 of the drawings of the present application.

To effect a joint between two conductors with this type of connector theinsulation is stripped from the ends of the conductors to predetermineddistances that are proportioned to the wire sizes of the conductors, andthe stripped ends are then inserted into the sleeve connector until theyare in substantially abutting relation Within the connector. Thereafterthe connector is crimped with a suitable tool at several points toprovide thel joint illustrated in Figure 14. Referring to Figure 14 thecenter crimp engages the stripped ends of the wires to provide anelectrical connection therebetween and the two end crimps 12 engage theinsulation of the conductors to provide a tight joint. p

A hand tool of the general type to which the present invention relatescommonly comprises a crimping head provided with one or more crimpingmolds, a plunger having one or more dies aligned with the molds ofthecrimping head, a pair of pivoted handles connected to the plunger andoperable to force the plunger dies toward the molds to crimp a connectortherebetween, and a magazine or the like containing a supply of blankconnectors that can be fed to the tool for crimping. It has beenpreviously proposed that such tools be provided with an automatic feed,that is, that they be so constructed that upon retraction of the plungera connector blank is automatically fed into the path of the plunger andadvanced thereby toward the molds of the crimping head. While such anautomatic feed is useful for many applications, there are some caseswhere it is preferable to have a feed that may be called semi-automaticin the sense that feeding of the connectors is eiected by manualmanipulation of a part of the tool that operates independently of theplunger-operatingy handles. With such a semi-automatic feed, forexample, the operating handles can be actuated a number of times tocause the plunger to re-crimp a given connectorwithout having anotherconnector blank fed into the path of the plunger to interfere with there-crimping operation.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide amagazine-type hand tool for crimping electrical connectors'that issemi-automatie in operation and will permit re-cn'mping of a connectorWithout feeding of lanewconnectorblank. It is another object of theVinvention to provide a hand tool of this general type wherein connectorblanks from a supply of such blanks can be fed into operative positionfor crimping by a simple manual operation as desired. It is a furtherobject of the invention to provide an improved Wire holder for holding apair of conductors in proper position within a connector blank forcrimping action by the hand tool. Other objects of the invention will bein part obvious and in part pointed out hereafter. y

The many objects and advantages of the present invention can best beunderstood and appreciated by reference to the accompanying drawingswhich illustrate a hand tool incorporating a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the hand tool showing the crimping headand the toggle action of the operating handles;

Figure 2 is an elevation further showing the general organization of thehand tool;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the crimping head with the upperportion thereof removed to show the manner in which the crimping dies ofthe plunger cooper-` ate with the crimping molds of the crimping head;

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken substantially ou the line 4 4 ofFigure 1 and showing the plunger in advanced position and the locationof the connector blank magazine just after it has been initiallyinserted in the hand tool;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the plunger and magazinein retracted position.

Figure 6v is `a View similar to Figure 5 but with the magazine advancedto feed a connector for crimping;

Figure 7 is a View similar to Figure 6 showing a con-j nector beingcrimped by the plunger, which is shown in its advanced position;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the magazine showing its generalorganization;

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the magazine showing a number ofconnector blanks therein, the connector follower and the actuatingspring of the magazine;

Figure 10 is a vertical section taken on the line 10-10 of Figure 9further showing the relationship between the connector blanks, theirfollower and the actuating spring;

Figure 11 is a top plan view of the magazine slide that closes thedischarge opening of the magazine prior to its insertion in the handtool;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the connector blank follower;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the wire holder, and

nearest the crimping head 14 are pivotally connected by a pin 24 to eachother and also to a plunger 26 mounted for reciprocating movement withinthe crimping head 14.

Referring to Figure 3, the crimping head 14 is provided With a centralcrimping nest or mold 30 flanked byfthe crimping molds 32 and 34 on eachside of the central mold. The end of plunger 26 nearest to the crimpingmolds is provided with corresponding dies which,

when the plunger 26 is advanced toward the crimping'` molds, cooperatewith the molds to crimp a connector plunger 26 is retracted, to eject acrimped connector from the tool. l

,y .Reverting' to Figures ,1 and 2, the cooperatiughandles p and 22support a ratchet mechanism 36 that prevents separating of the handlesuntil after they have been closed to the extent necessary to crimp aconnector, and an insulation stripper .38 that can be operated .to cutand `strip a predetermined length of insulation from an insulatedconductor. The ratchet mechanism and insulation stripper can be Vof .anysuitable and known construction and may be, for example, constructedlike the corresponding parts ofthe hand tool shown in the Klinglerapplication Serial No. 254,117, led October 3l, 195 l.

Extending over the top of the crimping head 14 and secured thereto thereis a wire holder member 40, the configuration of which is best shown inFigure 13 of the drawing. Referring to Figure 13 as well as to Figures land 2, the wire holder `comprises a U-shaped frame 42 secured to .the.head 14 by rivets 44 and having a pair of forwardly extending arms 46that extend past lthe crimping molds .of the head 14 on either sidethereof. Each of the arms 46 is provided with a slot 46a within which aconductor can be wedged to hold its stripped end properly positioned .ina connector within the crimping head.

Referring now to Figure 4 of the drawings, mounted for sliding movementin a vertical bore 47 of vplunger 26 there is a magazine actuatingplunger 48 that is urged upwardly by a spring 50 interposed between thelower surface of plunger 48 and the bottom surface of the vertical bore47. `Plunger 48 is cut away at one side to form a narrow slot 54. A pin56 `is .seated in plunger 26 and vextends into slot 54 in such manner asto prevent rotation of plunger 48. Formed integral with the plunger 48and extending upward therefrom there is a magazine retracting pin 58having a sloping upper surface, the function of which will be describedhereafter.

As indicated in vFigure 3, overlying the plunger 26 there is a ramp-likemember 60 which in Figure 3 Vis shown detached from the crimping head 14but normally forms part of the vcrimping head. The ramp 60 is cut awayto form a notch 62 that registers with the bore 47 of plunger 26 andreceives the retracting pin 58 when plunger 26 is withdrawn. The widthof notch 62 is less than the diameter of plunger 48 and hence the lowersurface Aof ramp 60 (see .Figure 4) provides *a stop to limit upwardVmovement of plunger Y48.

The ramp 60 cooperates with the top and upper side portions of frame l42of wire holder 40 to define a channel :64 that is constructed andarranged to receive a connector blank supply magazine. The constructionof the magazine, which is generally designated by the numeral 66, isbest shown in Figures 8 to l2 of the drawings. The magazine is ofhollow, generally rectanguloid construction with a longitudinal slot 68at its upper surface and a discharge opening 70 at its left hand end (asviewed in Figs. 8 to 12). As particularly shown in Figure 10, themagazine is adapted to contain a series of connector blanks 72 that are'urged to the left by a follower 74 and a spring 76. Prior to use in thehand tool of the discharge opening 70 of the magazine is closed by a-slide 78 that is constructed for sliding movement along the bottom wall80 of the magazine.

Referring to Figure ll, the slide 78 is provided with a notch or slot 82that cooperates with the retracting pin 58 in a 4manner describedhereafter. At its other end, slide 78 has a downwardly extending lip 84which `(see Figs. 9 and 10) extends through an opening `81 in the bottomwall 80 of the magazine and helps in guiding and positioning the slide78. The wall .80 of the magazine 66 is provided with a notch 86 having ashape similar to that of the notch 82 of slide 78. The `rear end of themagazine 66 is closed by a spring clip closure member 88 (best shown inFig. 8), which is removable to permit assembly and maintenance of themagazine, and has outwardly extending ears 90 that can be inserted inthe openings 92 inthe side walls of the magazine 66 to hold the endclosure in place. As previously indicated the blanks are urged towardthe discharge end of the magazine by a spring 76 which bears againstclosure 88 at one end and at its other against follower 74. Theconfiguration of the follower 74 is particularly shown in Figure l2. Thetop of the magazine 66 is provided with a pair of buttons 94 thatcooperate with corresponding holes 96 (see Fig. 5) in the channel 64 toensure proper positioning of the magazine when it is in its retractedposition and also to retain the magazine within .the channel 64.

The manner in which connector blanks are fed to the crimping molds forcrimping is illustrated in Figures 4 to 7 of the drawings. Referring toFigure 4, the magazine is shown in this figure in the position itoccupies when first inserted in channel 64 of the hand tool. Asindicated in Figure 4, the plunger 26 is normally in its advancedposition with handles 20 and 22 together when a full magazine is firstinserted. As the magazine is inserted, retracting pin 58 engages notch82 of slide 78 and restrains its against further movement to the left.Thus .as the magazine approaches the position shown in Fig. 4, the slide78 is in effect Withdrawn to permit connector blanks to be fed from themagazine through discharge opening 70. With the parts positioned asshown in Fig. 4, the notch.82 of slide 78 is aligned with the notch 86of the lower wall of magazine 66.

When the magazine has been inserted the handles v20 and 22 areseparated, whereupon plunger 26 is retracted and the retracting pin orfinger 58 retracts the magazine 66 to the position shown in Fig. 5. Asshown in Fig. 5, with the magazine in this position, buttons 94 engagethe holes 96 in the magazine housing.

When the plunger 26 has been fully retracted, the magazine 66 ismanually advanced to the position shown'inFigure 6, whereupon aconnector blank drops through the magazine discharge opening 70 into thepath of yplunger 26. The handles 20 and 22 are then brought together toposition the connector blank against the molds 30, 32 and 34, the wiresto be connected are inserted in the ends of the connector blank and alsoin the wire holder slots 46a, and the handles are pressed together tocrimp the connector as indicated in Figure 7. As the plunger 26 advancesfrom the position of Figure 6 to that of Figure 7, the pin 58 bearsagainst the bottom 80 of magazine `66 and is depressed thereby againstthe action of spring 50 until it reaches the aligned notches 82 and 86,whereupon it moves upwardly to the position shown in Figure 7.

yWhen the plunger 26 is again retracted, the magazine is withdrawn Itothe position shown in Figure 5. With the magazine in this position theplunger 26 can be 'advanced or retracted without feeding another vblankfrom the magazine and thus the connector that is in crimping positioncan be recrimped, if desired, without interference due to feeding of asecond connector blank.

From the foregoing description it should `be apparent that the presentinvention provides a hand tool capable of achieving the several objectsset forth at the beginning of the specification. A simple and effectivemanually operable means is kprovided for feeding connector blanks forcrimping, and the mode of cooperation of the connector blank supply andother parts of the hand tool is such that the plunger can be fullyretracted and advanced without feeding a second connector blank forcrimping until it is desired to do so. Thus a given connector can berecrimped several times if desired before it is ejected from the tool.

It is, of course, to be understood that the foregoing description isillustrative only and that numerous changes can be made in theembodiment described without departing from the spirit of the inventionas set forth inthe appended claims.

What I claim as new is:

l. In a tool for crimping electrical connectors, in cornbination, ,acrimping head having one or more crimping molds therein, ka plungermovably mounted in said head and having one or more crimping dies, eachof which is positioned to cooperate with one of said molds to crimp aconnector positioned in the path of said plunger, means for moving saidplunger and associated dies toward and away from said molds and amagazine mounted on said head and adapted to hold a supply of connectorsfor crimping, said magazine being mounted for manual movement from aninactive position to a connector delivery position for delivery of aconnector to be crimped into the path of said plunger and said plungerhaving a part engageable with said magazine to return said magazine tosaid inactive position when said plunger is retracted from said molds.

2. In a tool for crimping electrical connectors, in combination, acrimping head having one or more crimping molds therein, a plungermounted for reciprocating movement in said head and having one or morecrimping dies, each of which is positioned to cooperate with one of saidmolds to crimp a connector positioned in the path of said plunger, meansfor moving said plunger and associated dies toward and away from saidmolds and an elongated magazine mounted on said head with its axisforming an acute angle with the path of said plunger, said magazinebeing mounted for manual movement from an inactive position to aconnector delivery position for delivery of a connector into the path ofsaid plunger, and said plunger having a magazine retracting pinpositioned to engage said magazine on retraction of said plunger toreturn said magazine to said inactive position.

3. A tool according to claim 2 and wherein said pin is slidably mountedin said plunger and is spring urged toward said magazine.

4. In a tool for crimping electrical connectors in combination, acrimping head having one or more crimping molds therein, a plungermovably mounted in said head and having one or more crimping dies, eachof which is positioned to cooperate with one of said molds to crimp aconnector positioned in the path of said plunger, means for moving saidplunger and associated dies toward and away from said molds, and amagazine mounted on said head and adapted to hold a supply of connectorsfor crimping, said magazine being mounted for manual movement from aninactive position to a connector delivery position for delivery of aconnector to be crimped into the path of said plunger, said magazinehaving a delivery opening located near the path of said plunger whensaid magazine is in its connector delivery position, an internal springbiased to urge said supply of connectors toward said delivery openingand a closure for said delivery opening, said plunger having a partengageable with said closure to open said closure when said magazine isinitially moved from said inactive position to said connector deliveryposition.

5. In a tool for crimping electrical connectors in combination, acrimping head having one or more crimping molds therein, a plungermovably mounted in said head and having one or more crimping dies, eachof which is positioned to cooperate with one of said molds to crimp aconnector positioned in the path of said plunger, means for moving saidplunger and associated dies toward and away from said molds, and amagazine housing mounted on said head with its axis forming an acuteangle with the path of said plunger, said housing being adapted toreceive a magazine containing a supply of connectors to be crimped andsaid plunger including a magazine retracting pin positioned to extendinto said housing during at least a part of the movement of saidplunger.

6. In a tool for crimping electrical connectors in combination, acrimping head having one or more crimping molds therein, a plungermovably mounted in said head and having one or more crimping dies, eachof which is positioned to cooperate with one of said molds to crimp aconnector positioned in the path of said plunger, means for moving saidplunger and associated dies toward and away from said molds, a magazinehousing mounted on said head with its axis forming an acute angle withthe path of said plunger, a magazine adapted to hold a supply ofconnectors for crimping slidably mounted in said housing, said magazinebeing mounted for manual movement from an inactive position to aconnector-delivery position to deliver a connector to the path of saidplunger and said plunger having a part engageable with said magazine toreturn said magazine to said inactive position when said plunger isretracted from said molds, said housing and said magazine being providedwith cooperating detent elements for retaining said magazine at saidinactive position.

7. In a tool for crimping electrical connectors, in combination, acrimping head having one or more aligned crimping molds therein, aplunger movably mounted in said head and having one or more crimpingdies, each of which is positioned to cooperate with one of said molds tocrimp a connector placed in the path of said plunger, means for movingsaid plunger and associated dies toward and away from said molds, amagazine housing mounted on said head, a magazine slidable in saidhousing and adapted to mold a supply of connectors for crimping, saidmagazine having a delivery opening, an internal spring biased to urgeconnectors toward said delivery opening, a slotted closure for saidopening and a slotted base, said magazine being manually slidable froman inactive position to a connector-delivery position for delivery of aconnector through said opening to the path of said plunger, said plungerhaving a part positioned to extend into said housing and engageable withthe slots of said closure and base, whereby initial movement of saidmagazine from its inactive to its connector delivery position retractssaid closure to open said delivery opening and subsequent retraction ofsaid plunger causes said part to engage said slotted base to return saidmagazine to its inactive position.

8. In a tool for crimping electrical connectors in combination, acrimping head having a plurality of aligned crimping molds therein, aplunger mounted for reciprocating movement in said head and having aplurality of crimping dies, each of which is positioned to cooperatewith one of said molds to crimp a connector positioned in the path ofsaid plunger, a par of handles pivotally secured to said head and saidplunger for moving said plunger and associated dies toward and away fromsaid molds, a wire-holding member secured to said head and having a pairof wire-holding slots aligned with said molds and laterally spaced fromsaid head, a magazine housing mounted on said head with its axis formingan acute angle with the path of said plunger, and a magazine slidableinsaid housing and adapted to hold a supply of connectors for crimping,said magazine having a discharge opening, a slotted closure therefor, aslotted base and an internal spring biased to urge connectors towardsaid delivery opening, said magazine being mounted in said housing formanual movement from an inactive position to a connector-deliveryposition, said plunger having a magazine retracting pin slidably mountedtherein and a spring for urging said pin toward the base of saidmagazine, said retracting pin being positioned to extend into saidhousing during at least a part of the movement of said plunger and beingengageable with the slots of said closure and base, whereby upon initialmovement of said magazine to said connector delivery position said pinretracts said closure to open said delivery opening and upon subsequentretractive movement of said plunger said pin engages the slot of saidbase to return said magazine to its inactive position.

9. In a tool for crimping electrical connectors, in combination, acrimping head having one or more crimping molds therein, a plungermovably mounted in said head and having one or more crimping dies, eachof which is positioned to cooperate with one of said molds to crimp aconnector positioned in the path of said plunger, means for moving saidplunger and associated dies toward and away from said molds and amagazine mounted on said References Cited in the file of this patentUNITED STATES PATENTS 814,020 Clifford Mar. 6, 1906 3L Sommer Apr. 17,Brenizer July 6, Burns Sept. 2, Bratz Sept. 14', Swengel Nov. 26,Schroeder June 5, Blumensaadt Nov. 13, Carlson Nov. 25, Anderson et al.Feb. 1,0,

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